The American Heart Association is boosting lifesaving skills in Horry County by providing CPR‑in‑Schools® with First Aid Training Kits to six local high schools. The kits, funded by local sponsor HTC, were delivered to Conway High School, Carolina Forest High School, Myrtle Beach High School, North Myrtle Beach High School, Loris High School, and the Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology.

Each kit includes reusable manikins and supplies that allow students to practice hands‑only CPR and learn about automated external defibrillators (AEDs). South Carolina law requires high‑school seniors to receive CPR instruction before graduation, and these kits help schools meet that mandate while giving students practical, repeatable training.

Local support and future expansion

“Thanks to the support of HTC, we are able to add hundreds of students to the Nation of Lifesavers in Horry County,” said Lindsay Pampani, development director for the American Heart Association in Myrtle Beach. “When more people know how to perform CPR, they are better prepared to respond in an emergency and help save lives.”

Samantha Cherry, marketing coordinator for HTC, added, “Empowering students with CPR skills is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in community health.” The organization plans to expand the program to additional Horry County high schools next year.

Connection to state policy

The initiative aligns with South Carolina’s Smart Heart Act, recently enacted to strengthen cardiac emergency response planning and increase AED access in schools. By providing hands‑only CPR training and equipment, the program supports the state’s broader effort to improve cardiac emergency preparedness for students.

For more information on hands‑only CPR, visit cpr.heart.org. Local event details can be found at heart.org/SouthCarolina.

Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.